Be it fresh, jewel-like berries that evoke warm, sunny days or, deep, mysterious fish sauces that either delight or disgust, our affair with food and ingredients is an ongoing adventure that will forever fascinate the senses.

Beyond beautiful sarong kebaya and colourful shophouses, the Peranakan heritage is the unseen thread that binds Southeast Asian nations together. We asked our writer Ari about his fascination with the subject and he shared what he discovered on his travels around the region.

The Singapore Heritage Cookbook series serves up tantalising whiffs of the island nation’s delicious and diverse cuisines, tracing the origins of specific dishes for a greater appreciation of cultural identity.